Reed Construction employees don't need the Olympics to continue running in charity races. The team started when Bill Birck, center, trained for the Chicago Marathon two years ago. While he never completed the race, he encouraged co-workers Michael Machat,Gina Adreani, Maritza Parrales, and Erik Haarstad  to start a committee to get Reed employees involved. They've since run the Hustle Up the Hancock, the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon, and tag-teamed at the Accenture Triathlon, where both men's and women's teams from Reed have come in first in the last two years.

This year, the team's goal is to raise $20,000 and compete in at least 10 races. For the less athletically inclined, they plan on participating in the Polar Bear Plunge, an annual winter dive into Lake Michigan. Erik, who has run the Boston Marathon, often acts as the teams coach and Gina and Maritza say working out together or comparing diet and exercise schedules has built team spirit around the office.